Fifth seed Elina Svitolina has continued her career-best 2017 season, claiming her fifth title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto with a 6-4, 6-0 win over former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
The remarkable year of Elina Svitolina continued to roll on, as the world number five claimed a tour-best fifth title of 2017 at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. It was a match of polar opposite story lines for Svitolina and Wozniacki, as the Ukrainian moved to 5-0 in finals in 2017 with her 6-4, 6-0 victory over sixth-seed Wozniacki, while the Dane’s nightmare performances in championship matches continued as she fell to a horrendous 0-6 record in title matches in 2017.
Besides the prestigious WTA Premier 5 title on the line in Canada, both players are still in the running to become world number one following next week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, but with Svitolina’s third Premier 5 of 2017, she moves ahead of Wozniacki in that battle for the top spot.
“I need some time still to really realize, because I had so many matches for the last two days and it’s been really, really tough physically,” said Svitolina. “Today was very hot, so I’ve been really struggling. I’m just very happy that it’s finished – and with a title, it’s even more special.”
“It’s amazing that I achieved this, but I try to take one tournament at a time, to not think so much about all the past titles,” said a jubilant world number five. “Of course it brings me confidence, I have the experience from those finals, but I try to take it as a new challenge and always look forward to it.”
In the opening set, it was a narrow battle between both, as the opening four games were split. with Svitolina and Wozniacki holding to begin the match before exchanging breaks of serve for 2-all. After the pair both held for 3-all, it was the fifth seed who began to take the driver’s seat as she broke Wozniacki for 4-3. Despite being broken back with a poor service game, the Ukrainian played a pitch-perfect return game the following time, as she broke the former world number one at love to go up 5-4. Looking to serve out the opening set, it was Svitolina who held her nerve, taking the first set 6-4 on her second time of asking.
The second set was another example of a polar opposite on display in Toronto, as Svitolina went on a run, white-washing Wozniacki in the second. The Ukrainian fifth seed set the tone early on in the second set, breaking the former world number one on her first time of asking, a seemingly deflating game for the Dane. Svitolina, having already won this season in Dubai and Rome, kept up her relentless play, consolidating the break only to secure another to go up 3-0 and a double break. The 22-year-old Ukrainian saved the only break point she faced the entire second set before seemingly putting the final nail in Wozniacki’s coffin to go up 5-0 and give herself the chance to serve for the title in Toronto. Svitolina closed out the title in impressive fashion, claiming the title on her second time of asking and wrapping up a strong performance 6-4, 6-0 to take her fifth title of 2017.
Following the match in her post-match press conference, Svitolina said, “I was very, very tired after the first game of first set, and I knew that I need to give everything because Caroline doesn’t miss much. You have to work really hard to get unforced error from her,” said the Ukrainian. “I just decided I’m going to just play every ball and just leave everything on court.”
“That’s why, emotionally I was relieved when I won the first set, and then was playing better and better in the second. I really couldn’t believe that it all finished and I’m holding the trophy,” commented Svitolina.
“Today, I was going to into the match and I was thinking, ‘Okay, this is not the final.’ Just try to think that this is a quarterfinal, because we could play with Caroline [in a] quarterfinal, semifinal,” said the fifth seed. “The one we played in Dubai I was under big pressure. It was the first time that I was entering top 10. That win was just amazing…but I got the experience from that match because she’s very tough player.”
“You need to have a clear mind and clear plan what you do on court, so I learned little bit more from that match and it really definitely helped me today to manage my nerves and be calm on the important moments,” concluded Svitolina.
As for Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one was visibly disappointed to have lost her sixth final in 2017, but still trying to take the positives out of the successful week in Toronto.
“It was a tough day. She played well. She mixed up the pace and made it uncomfortable for me out there,” said Wozniacki. “Today, probably I could have used some more pace, but she played really smart today and used my pace to her advantage.”
“I wasn’t really expecting much out of myself when I came into the tournament. Obviously, I haven’t won a match [in Toronto] before, but it was a good week and I beat some great players, and I can really take a lot with me and be proud of that,” concluded the Danish world number six.
Svitolina and Wozniacki will next move on to the hardcourts of Cincinnati at the Western & Southern Open, where both will have a shot at the number one ranking following a second straight WTA Premier 5 event.
